Flash-light apparatus.



No. 699,522. Patented May 6, |902.

' A. HEMSLEY.

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uuuuuuuu IlS UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER HEMSLEY, OF LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLASHMLIG HT APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 699,522, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed J'uly Z5, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER HEMSLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansdowne, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flash-Light Apparatus, of which the following is a specication.

My invention has relation to an apparatus for igniting Hash-light powder; and in such connection it relates to the construction and arrangement oi such an apparatus.

The main requirements of a flash-light apparatus are that the flash-light powder shall be ignited at the required instant and that premature explosion or accidental ignition of the powder shall be prevented. To provide such an apparatus is the principal object of my present invention.

The nature and scope of my said invention will be more fully understood from the following` description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure l is a top or plan view of a flashlight apparatus embodying main features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line :c of Fig. l, showing a flashing powder in the receptacle of the apparatus and with igniting means for the powder embedded therein.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a rectangular or other-shape block provided with a powder-receptacle a.

b and b are metal arms each pivotally attached, as at h3, to the block A and each slitted, as at h2, to removably retain a wire c, adapted to bridge the two arms b and b. These two arms b and b have free ends b4 projecting above the face of the block A and adapted to engage the terminals of a battery or other electric circuit, in which is included a circuit-making switch device d, adapted to be brought into contact with a contact-point d to establish the circuit through the apparatus with the battery. The current from the battery B passes by the line l0 through the circuit-making switch device d, contactpoint d, line 1l, the terminal of said line consisting of asnap-spring e, adapted to fit snugly the projecting end b4 of the metal arm b, through the metal arm b, inserted wire c,

Serial No. 69.640. (No model.)

bridging therespective arms b and h by the metallic arm h',- split terminal e', and line l2 back to the battery B. The powder or similar material to be exploded or ignited is mounted in the receptacle a', so as to envelop or bring the wire c, bridging the respective metal arms h and h', within the body of the mass or mound of powder or the like in the receptacle 0; of the block A, when by manipulation by hand of the circuit-making switch device CZ to cause the same to contact with the contact-point d the current will then pass from the battery B through the respective lines and the wire bridging the metal arms Z9 and b' to heat the wire up sufciently embedded in the mass or mound of powder placed in the receptacle a', as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, to cause an instant explosion or ignition of said powder, and thereby to produce the desired intense flash-light for instantaneous photography or other purposes.

By pivotally attaching the arms b and b', as well as slitting their ends h2, two means of varying the bridging resistance c are provided. Thus the wire c may be removed and replaced from the split ends by a wire of varying thickness, or the arms h and b may be turned on the pivots b3 to vary the length of the wire c, bridging said arms.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-" In a flash-light apparatus, la block provided with a receptacle for the powder, two metallic arms pivotally attached to said block and each having a split end extending over the' receptacle, a resistance inserted in said split ends to bridge the arms, and said arms having a projecting free end extending above the face of the block to receive the terminals of an electric circuit, all Varranged so that variations in the bridging resistance may be obtained either by removing and replacing the resistance in the split ends of said arms or by turning the arms on their pivotalsupports.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER HEMSLEY.

Witnesses:

J. WALTER DoUeLAss, THOMAS M. SMITH. 

